Kashmir ceasefire may be extended
SILVASSA, Dec 16 — The Centre can consider extending the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir beyond the Ramzan month and a decision is likely to be taken before the end of the current winter session of Parliament, Home Minister L.K. Advani said today.

• Ultras launch recruitment drive

Punjab adopts Bikrami calendar
AMRITSAR, Dec 16 — Putting the controversy surrounding the ‘Nanakshahi calendar’ at rest, the Punjab Government has declared holidays on the basis of the ‘Bikrami Samvat’ as recommended by Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. 

Tributes paid to 1971 war heroes
NEW DELHI, Dec 16 — The nation paid tributes to the soldiers while celebrating ‘‘Vijay Divas’’ commemorating the victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war which saw the creation of Bangladesh.

The three Services chiefs on the occasion of Vijay Divas at India Gate in New Delhi on Saturday. — PTI photo
 

Work resumes in Delhi
Cracks appear in postal strike
NEW DELHI, Dec 16 — Cracks have appeared among the Postal strikers as all 575 post offices in the national Capital functioned normally today while elsewhere in the country the 12-day strike continued paralysing mail services.

Salman, Bharat interrogated
MUMABI, Dec 16 — Salman Khan, hero of the controversial film ‘Chori Chori Chupke Chupke’, its director duo Abbas-Mastan and financier Bharat Shah today appeared before the Crime Branch in connection with the arrest of the film’s producer Nasim Rizvi for his alleged links with the underworld.

Security tightened for Hrithik, family
MUMBAI, Dec 16 — The police has tightened security for Hindi cinema’s actor Hrithik Roshan and his producer-director father Rakesh following the revelations of an underworld plot to harm them.
(Nation page)


Film star Salman Khan is escorted by the police as he arrives for questioning at police HQ in Bombay on Saturday. — Reuters photo

Youths attack Manoj’s house
NEW DELHI, Dec 16 — Seven unidentified youths tried to barge into the flat of former cricket all-rounder, Manoj Prabhakar in Nehru Enclave in South Delhi and assaulted the security guard deployed outside the complex.

NHRC issues notices to DC, police officers
KARNAL, Dec 16 — The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Karnal Deputy Commissioner, Mr Devender Singh, the district police chief, Mr A.S. Ahlawat, Mr K.K. Rao, DSP, Karnal, and Mr Rattan Singh, DSP (Assandh), to appear before the Commission in person on January 3, 2001.

Pay bills or no development: CM MEHAM, Dec 16 — The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today said today that outstanding power bills would not be waived under any circumstance.